New guinea impatiens plant named ‘Balcelsangi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balcelsangi’, characterized by its single type dark magenta-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage; and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens hawkeri.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcelsangi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcelsangi’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during June 2003. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of New Guinea Impatiens cultivars with numerouslarge flowers, attractive flower coloration, and a freely basalbranching growth habit.

The new New Guinea Impatiens cultivar is the result ofcross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is theproprietary Impatiens hawkeri breeding selection designated 7851, notpatented, characterized by its single type dark burgundy-coloredflowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright growth habit. Themale (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatienshawkeri breeding selection designated 3312-1, not patented,characterized by its single type medium purple-colored flowers, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and upright-mounded growth habit. The newcultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant withinthe progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during December 2003in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceDecember 2003 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcelsangi’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Single type dark magenta-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower color and from plants of the male parent primarilyin flower color.

Of the many commercially available New Guinea Impatiens cultivars knownto the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar isCelebration Sangria ‘Balcelsan’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,623. However, inside by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plantsof ‘Balcelsan’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from        plants of ‘Balcelsan’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color different        from plants of ‘Balcelsan’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcelsangi’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balcelsangi’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balcelsangi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on Jul. 28, 2006 between 9:00a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-coveredgreenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercialpractice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch potsfor 11 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatureswere maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.)during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.)during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Balcelsangi.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Impatiens hawkeri breeding selection            designated 7851.        -   Male parent.—Impatiens hawkeri breeding selection designated            3312-1.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 24            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 7 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 14.8 cm. Width: Approximately 25.8 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main            branches per plant: Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 10.6 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 4.6 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 3.4 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young            stem: 144B with overlay of 185A. Color of mature stem: 144B            with overlay of 185A at node region.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:            In whorls of 3 to 5 leaves.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and            leaf blade is perpendicular to stem. Shape: Elliptic.            Margin: Serrate, ciliate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf at center            of stem: Approximately 10.9 cm. Width of mature leaf at            center of stem: Approximately 4.5 cm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous with            sparsely pubescent midvein. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: Closest to 137B with venation of 137B and an            overlay on midvein of 185B that fades towards leaf apex.            Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: 138B            with venation of 138B with an overlay of 185C. Color of            upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 137B            and an overlay on midvein of 185B that fades towards leaf            apex.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 138B with an            overlay of 185C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcelsangi’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 6. Fragrance: None.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity            showing color per plant: Approximately 4.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.4 cm. Color: Darker than            N74A.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round, cupped when first open with petals            turning downward with age. Width: Approximately 6.7 cm.            Depth: Approximately 1.1 cm. Borne: Above and below foliage.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Flat.            Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate.            Base of upper petal: Truncate. Base of lateral and lower            petals: Attenuate. Length of upper petal: Approximately            2.9 cm. Width of upper petal: Approximately 4.6 cm. Length            of lateral petals: Approximately 3.2 cm. Width of lateral            petals: Approximately 2.9 cm. Length of lower petals:            Approximately 3.4 cm. Width of lower petals: Approximately            3.5 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color            of upper surface when first open: More blue than 61A. Color            of lower surface when first open: 61C. Color of upper            surface when fully open: Darker and more red than N74A with            a central eye of 60A. Color of lower surface when fully            open: N74B.        -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 5.7 cm.            Diameter at tip: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 187C            darkening to 187B toward tip of 145C.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 5.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144C with an overlay of            185B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, with one fused to base of            upper petal. Shape of lateral and lower sepals: Ovate. Apex            of all sepals: Acuminate. Length of lateral sepals:            Approximately 1.5 cm. Width of lateral sepals: Approximately            6.0 mm. Length of lower sepal: Approximately 1.8 cm. Width            of lower sepal: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces of all sepals: Glabrous. Color of lateral            sepals: 185A and tip of 144B. Color of lower sepal: Closest            to N155B with an overlay of 186C and tip of 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per            flower, fused around pistil at apex. Anther shape: Hooded.            Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 160D at            apex transitioning to 61C toward filament. Filament color:            61A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium:            Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately            6.0 mm. Stigma shape: 5-pointed star. Stigma color:            Colorless, transparent. Style color: 144B. Ovary texture:            Glabrous. Ovary color: 144B.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to New Guinea New Guinea Impatiens has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named‘Balcelsangi’, substantially as herein shown and described.